Pressure vessels



Oct. 18, 1966 J. MERCIER PRESSURE VESSELS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 6, 1964 IN VEN TOR. Jf/V /I/ (75%? BY mfafmm Oct. 18, 1966 J. MERCIER 3,279,499

PRESSURE VESSELS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 A from e ys United States Patent 3,279,499 PRESSURE VESSELS Jean Mercier, 1185 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,438 3 Claims. (Cl. 13S-30) This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 278,850, filed May 8, 1963, now Patent No. 3,161,208.

This invention relates to the art of pressure vessels more particularly of the type having a deformable partition therein.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted that where such pressure vessels are of a large size and the partition is an elongated bladder or sleeve, between the two fluids under pressure contained therein, which is compressed during operation, it is likely to rub against the side wall of the vessel with possibility of rupture of the bladder or sleeve and failure of the pressure vessel. In addition, when such elongated bladder or sleeve is compressed, it may form a sharp fold which is also likely to cause rupture.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a pressure vessel of the above type in which the deformable partition therein is precluded from rubbing against the side wall of the container and is not likely to form sharp folds, thereby preventing rupture of said bladder with resultant failure of the unit.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional View of one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coil spring of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another em-bodiment of the coil spring, and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of other embodiments of the guide member which may incorporate the coil springs of FIGS. 2 or 3.

Referring now to the drawings, as shown in FIG.1, the pressure vessel comprises a container of strong rigid material such as steel, cast aluminum or the like, capable of withstanding high pressure and having a pair of ports 11 and 12 preferably axially aligned at opposed ends of the container.

The container 10 may be spherical or cylindrospherical as shown and has a partition 13 therein intervening between said ports 11 and 12, defining a variable volume chamber on each side. The partition 13 preferably is a collapsible and expansi'ble bladder of resilient material such as rubber or synthetic plastic of like physical characteristics, which in distended but substantially unstretched condition is smaller than the cavity of the container 10 and has its longitudinal axis aligned with the ports 11 and 12.

The bladder 13 is securely affixed in the container 10 preferably by means of a fitting 14 which desirably has a substantially cylindrical stem portion 15 with a base disc 16 presenting an outstanding lateral flange 17 which desirably has an annular groove 18 in its upper face in which may be positioned the thickened rim 19 about the mouth of the bladder 13.

Thus with the stern portion 15 positioned in port 11 and protruding beyond the latter, when a nut 21 screwed on the protruding portion of stem 15 is tightened, the rirn 19 of the bladder 13 will be clamped between flange 3,279,499 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 17 and the adjacent wall ofthe container 10, securely to hold the rim 19 in place, an annular shoulder 23 adjacent the root end of stem 15 abutting against the periphery of port 11 to prevent cutting of the rim 19 of the bladder by excessive tightening of nut 21.

Extending from the undersurface of the disc 16, axially aligned with stem 15, is a nipple or core 24 preferably an integral part of the fitting 14 and which is encompassed by and to which is secured, one end of a tightly Wound coil spring 25, which extends axially of the bladder and is illustlatively formed from wire that is rectangular in crosssection as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

To permit introduction of fluid into the bladder, an axial bore 26 extends through the stem 15, the nipple 24 and the intervening disc 16, the nipple 24 desirably having a plurality of lateral passageways 27 therethrough to enhance the flow of fluid into the bladder 13, a valve (not shown) 'being provided at the outer end of bore 26 to control the fiow of fluid therethrough.

The length of the coil spring 25 is such that it illustratively extends almost the entire length of the bladder 13 and the free end 218 of the spring encompasses the reduced diameter portion 29 of a plug 31, the head 32 of which is desirably rounded and covered with resilient material as at 33.

The port 12 of the pressure vessel is desirably controlle-d by a suitable poppet valve 34, the spring urged valve head 35 of which is adapted to be engaged by the bladder 13 for closure of said valve.

In the operation of the unit shown in FIG. l, a fluid such as gas under pressure is introduced through bore 26 to charge the bladder 13 which will expand to engage the wall of the container 10, the gas flowing through the spaces between the convolutions of the coil spring 25.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the adjacent surfaces a and b of the convolutions of the coil spring 2S are flat and in engagement and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent surfaces a and b each has transverse grooves 25a which are relatively small in cross section.

Where the gas pressure initially introduced into the bladder is relatively high, the grooves 25 are not necessarily required as the pressure on the gas Will permit the latter to force its way between the adjacent surfaces a, b for charging cf the bladder. Where the gas pressure is low, the provision of the grooves 25a will enhance rapid charging of the bladder.

A fluid such as oil under pressure is forced into the container 10 through port 12, further to compress the gas in the bladder. In use of the charged unit, when a valve (not shown) in a line connected to port 12 is opened, the bladder will expand to force the fluid in the container out of the latter and when substantially all of the fluid has been expelled, the expanded bladder will engage the valve head 35 to close the latter to prevent extrusion of the bladder.

When the bladder 13 is `compressed by the introduction of oil under pressure through port 12, in the absence of the central guide or spring 25, it would tend to form folds and sharp creases which might cause rupture of the bladder. In addition as the bladder would be floating in the incompressible oil, it might rub against the Wall of the container with resultant rupture.

By reason of the central guide or coil spring 25, sharp folds in the compressed bladder are substantially precluded and in addition the bladder will be retained away from the container wall.

By reason of the fact that the grooves 25a are of relatively small cross section, even when the bladder is compressed against the central guide or coil spring 25, extrusion of the bladder will be prevented, yet relatively a large flow of gas through the multiplicity of grooves will be permitted when the bladder is initially charged.

It is of course to be understood that the core 24 shown in FIG. 1 could be solid rather than hollow -as shown at 90 in FIGS, 4 and 5 and could have longitudinal grooves 90' or be polygonal for example as at 90 to permit ready ow of iluid along the length of the core inwardly of the encompassing core spring 25', 25,

Asl many changes could be made in the above construction, yand many apparently widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, i-t is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pressure vessel comprising a rigid container having a deformable partition therein defining two chambers for uid, each having a uid passageway leading thereinto, a exible closely wound coil spring defining a guide for said partition in one of said chambers, said closely wound coil spring being substantially polygonal in cross section and the hat surfaces of the adjacent convolutions having means permitting passage therethrough of the iuid owing through one of said uid passageways.

2. A pressure vessel comprising a rigid container having va deformable partition therein defining two chambers for uid, each having a fluid passageway leading thereinto, a exible closely wound c-oil spring defining a guide member for said partition in one of said chambers, said closely wound coil spring having adjacent convolutions substantially rectangular in cross section and having the at'surfaces of adjacent convolutions substantially in engagement and being encompassed by said partition and having a subst-antially continuous surface with respect -to said partition to restrain extrusion therethrough of said partition, at least one of the at surfaces of adjacent convolutions of said coil spring having a plurality of grooves therein extending from the interior of said coil spring to the exterior, said grooves permitting passage therethrough of the fluid iowing through lone of said fluid passageways.

3. A pressure vessel comprising a rigid container having a deformable partition therein dening two chambers for uid, each having a uid passageway leading thereinto, a flexible closely wound coi-l spring centrally located in one of said chambers dening a guide member for said partition, said closely wound coil spring having Iadjacent convolutions substantially rectangular in cross section :and having the tat surfaces of adjacent convolutions substantially in engagement and being encompassed by said partition and having -a substantially continuous surface with respect to said partition to restrain extrusion therethrough of said partition, at least a portion of said coil spring being movable from its central position toward the wall of said container, Iat least one of the iiat surfaces of the adjacent convolutions of `said `coil spring having a plurality of grooves therein extending from the interior of said coil spring to the exterior thereof, said grooves permitting passage therethrough of the fluid owing through one of said fluid passageways.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

C. HOUCK, Assistant Examiner'. 

1. A PRESSURE VESSEL COMPRISING A RIGID CONTAINER HAVING A DEFORMABLE PARTITION THEREIN DEFINING TWO CHAMBERS FOR FLUID, EACH HAVING A FLUID PASSAGEWAY LEADING THEREINTO, A FLEXIBLE CLOSELY WOUND COIL SPRING DEFINING A GUIDE FOR SAID PARTITION IN ONE OF SAID CHAMBERS, SAID CLOSELY WOUND COIL SPRING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY POLYGONAL IN CROSS SECTION AND THE FLAT SURFACES OF THE ADJACENT CONVOLUTIONS HAVING MEANS PERMITTING PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF THE FLUID FLOWING THROUGH ONE OF SAID FLUID PASSAGEWAYS. 